R.I.P. John Rutsey
05-13-08, 08:23 PM
#1
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R.I.P. John Rutsey
John Rutsey, the original drummer for RUSH that left the band after their debut album has passed...
http://www.q107.com/Blogs/TheQ107Roc...tryID=10000007
John Rutsey, a founding member of Toronto rock band Rush, passed away this weekend according to Rush management company Anthem Entertainment. He was 55.
Rutsey was famous for playing on Rush’s 1974 debut album, including the song “In The Mood,” before deciding to leave the group due to health concerns. Rutsey suffered from diabetes and was unable to go on extended tours with the group.
Rutsey was replaced by dummer Neil Peart, which marked a turning point in the band’s sound towards progressive rock.
Rush formed in 1968 in Toronto and was originally composed of guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist Jeff Jones (who shortly thereafter was replaced by Geddy Lee) and Rutsey.
According to a 1989 interview with Alex Lifeson on the Rockline Radio program quoted by Wikipedia.org, Rutsey, “gave up playing (drums) shortly after he left the band and went into bodybuilding. He competed on an amateur level for a while, doing that for a few years.”
As of Monday afternoon, no official statement has been released on a cause of death, nor plans for a memorial service.
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Very sorry for this loss.
http://www.q107.com/Blogs/TheQ107Roc...tryID=10000007
John Rutsey, a founding member of Toronto rock band Rush, passed away this weekend according to Rush management company Anthem Entertainment. He was 55.
Rutsey was famous for playing on Rush’s 1974 debut album, including the song “In The Mood,” before deciding to leave the group due to health concerns. Rutsey suffered from diabetes and was unable to go on extended tours with the group.
Rutsey was replaced by dummer Neil Peart, which marked a turning point in the band’s sound towards progressive rock.
Rush formed in 1968 in Toronto and was originally composed of guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist Jeff Jones (who shortly thereafter was replaced by Geddy Lee) and Rutsey.
According to a 1989 interview with Alex Lifeson on the Rockline Radio program quoted by Wikipedia.org, Rutsey, “gave up playing (drums) shortly after he left the band and went into bodybuilding. He competed on an amateur level for a while, doing that for a few years.”
As of Monday afternoon, no official statement has been released on a cause of death, nor plans for a memorial service.
--------------
Very sorry for this loss.
05-13-08, 10:03 PM
#2
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I always liked his playing on that first Rush album.
Gene Simmons was a big fan as well (Rush gigged with KISS in both bands' early days), and he thought that Rush would go nowhere with Peart in place of Rutsey. (So much for that idea...)
Another one dies prematurely. 55 may not be young, but it sure as hell ain't old!
Gene Simmons was a big fan as well (Rush gigged with KISS in both bands' early days), and he thought that Rush would go nowhere with Peart in place of Rutsey. (So much for that idea...)
Another one dies prematurely. 55 may not be young, but it sure as hell ain't old!
05-14-08, 05:19 AM
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Wow, I've been "all things RUSH" for the last few days after their show here in So Cal and I was just reading about Rutsey on Wiki. So to have him die right after reading about him is freaky.
05-14-08, 05:23 AM
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Originally Posted by B5Erik
Gene Simmons was a big fan as well (Rush gigged with KISS in both bands' early days), and he thought that Rush would go nowhere with Peart in place of Rutsey. (So much for that idea...)
05-14-08, 09:49 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by B5Erik
Gene Simmons was a big fan as well (Rush gigged with KISS in both bands' early days), and he thought that Rush would go nowhere with Peart in place of Rutsey. (So much for that idea...)
05-14-08, 05:26 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by cungar
Everything? He drummed on one album.
It's a good record, but if Rutsey had stayed with them, they would have been little more than Canada's answer to Foghat.
05-14-08, 05:52 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by cungar
Everything? He drummed on one album.
Last edited by Lateralus; 05-14-08 at 09:21 PM.
05-14-08, 06:06 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by Lateralus
Without Rutsey there might have been no Rush, he helped from my favorite band ever.
Still nothing on Rush.com about him though.
05-16-08, 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Jason
But there's a certain core group of Rush fans who think that album is better than Moving Pictures.
05-16-08, 07:28 PM
#17
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from Rush's official site:
Our memories of the early years of Rush when John was in the band are very fond to us. Those years spent in our teens dreaming of one day doing what we continue to do decades later are special. Although our paths diverged many years ago, we smile today, thinking back on those exciting times and remembering John's wonderful sense of humour and impeccable timing. He will be deeply missed by all he touched.
Alex & Geddy
Our memories of the early years of Rush when John was in the band are very fond to us. Those years spent in our teens dreaming of one day doing what we continue to do decades later are special. Although our paths diverged many years ago, we smile today, thinking back on those exciting times and remembering John's wonderful sense of humour and impeccable timing. He will be deeply missed by all he touched.
Alex & Geddy
